Tie-plate.



.W. VOLKHARDT.

TIE PLATE.

ucmon men SEPT. 12. m1

Patented Jan. 7, 1919.

e n r o UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM VOLKHARDT, 0F STAPLETON, NEW YORK.

TIE-PLATE.

Application filed September 12, 1917.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, Vitamin VoLKHAno'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stapleton, Richmond borough, New York, in the'county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Tie-Plate, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to plates of that type adapted to be interposed between wooden railway ties and the rails resting thereon.

Heretofore it has been the practice to use fiat plates for the purpose of distributing the load over a more extensive surface on the tie than would be possible should the rails rest directly on the tie, thus to reduce the cutting and tearing of the tie. It has been found, however, that, due to the greatly increased weight of modern railway equip ment, these flat tie plates commonly used do not materially reduce the injury to the ties but, on the contrary, soon cut into and sometimes become embedded within the ties. this cutting action being produced by the sharp angles formed at the ends of the plates.

It has alm been the practice to form on the upper face of a tie plate a transverse rib constituting an abutment for the outer base flange of the rail resting on the tie plate. Under present conditions the use of this rib and the advantages resulting from such use are being dispensed with owing to the high cost of material and the desire to eliminate as much metal as possible in the construction of various articles.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide, a tie plate the ends of which are so shaped that they will not dig into a wooden tie but, on the contrary, will merely compress the tie, thus preventing un desirable injury such asheretofore resulted from cutting the fibers of the tic.

A further object is to provide a tie plate utilizing, in lieu of an upstanding rib. upstruck ears constituting abutments for the outer base flange of the rail. the formation of these ears requiring no more metal than would be necessary in the construction of a flat tie plate.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 7, 1919.

Serial No. 190,910.

the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred forms of the invention have been shown.

slight extent as indicated at 2 thus to present upwardly curved bearing faces 3 at the end of the plate.

Projecting upwardly from the sides of the plate 1 near one end are ears 4 the inner sides of which constitute abutments or shoulders for engagement by the edge of the outer base flange of a rail. As shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive these cars can be made by striking them upwardly from the plate so that they will diverge upwardly. See Fig. 3. If preferred. however, these ribs can be made by pressing the metal upwardly so that there will be no incisions at the sides of the ears.

Spike receiving a ertures 5 are preferably formed in t e plate 1 between the ears 4 and formed in the plate 1 along the center thereof and near the remote-end is an elongated spike reoeiving opening 6.

In using the tie plate herein described the same is placed on a tie so asto extend longitudinallv thereof. The rail is then placed on the plate between the openings 5 and 6 and with the outer base flange of the rail pressing laterally against the inner sides of the lugs 4. Spikes are then driven or screwed through the openings so that the heads thereof will la the outer base flange of the rail and anot er spike i driven or screwed through the opening 6 at a point where its head will engage the innenbase flange of the rail. Obviously by providing plate eanrbe used in connection with rails of different widths.

'rerginglines and separated at an elongated spike receiving opening 6 the Although only three spike receiving openings have been shown it is to be understood that a greater number (an be employed if desired. Also instead of providing angular s )ike receiving openings, oval or other shaped openings can be used These changes are so obvious that it is not deemed neces sary to illustrate them in detail.

Instead of providing a smooth bottom surface, said surface can be roughened in any desired manner, as by providing corruga tions or the like.

What is claimed is 1. A tie plate having its end portions curved u wardly and outwardly to present curved t rust bearings diverging throughout their lengths. i

2. A tie plate bf uniform thickness and havin a flat up er face the ends of the plate Eeing curve upwardly and outwardly to present rounded end thrust hearings (ll-- verging throughout their len hs.

3. A tie plate having side ugs projecting upwardly therefrom along upwardly ditheir sides and one end from the plate, the inner sides of the lugs througho their lengths constituting abutments for the outer base flange of a rail and their outer sides contacting throughout their lengths with and backed by walls of the openin in the plate from which the respective ugs are projected.

4. A tie plate having upthrust lugs at the sides thereof diverging upwardly and separated at their sides and one end from the plate, the inner sides of the lugs throu hout their lengths constitutin side thrust arings for the outer base ange of a rail and the outer sides of the lugs being backed throughout their lengths by the outer walls of the openings under the lugs and in the plate. V

5. A tie late havin side lugs rojecting upwardly t iorefrom a ong upwardly diverging lines, the sides and one end of each lug being separated from the plate and the inner sides of the lugs constitutin abutments for the outer base flange 0 a rail while the outer sides of the lugs are in con tact throu liout their lengths with the outer walls of t ie openings in the tie plate from which the lugs are projected, the ends of said plate having their bottom faces curved upwardly and outwardl from the top to the bottom to constitute en thrust bearings.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

WILLiAM VOLKHARDT. Witnesses:

H. Foum E. W. Mn-rz. 

